The stereotypical trajectory of a rap career favors the young. Rappers seemingly explode on to the scene, becoming the genre’s prince before fading into relative obscurity. On average, rappers get a five-year span to make the most of the spotlight, either etching their name in history or being relegated to the doldrums of rap purgatory (e.g. relevancy thirst traps like Love & Hip-Hop).

However, this phenomenon is changing. As rappers continue to leverage the Internet to their advantage, many are getting a second chance. The internet has provided rappers instant access to fan support and criticism. This has allowed artists to radically change the course of their career by having their finger on the pulse. Thus old rappers are learning to become more malleable to the sounds of the time, while already successful rappers are extending their shelf life. In honor of this, here are the rappers that never stopped improving, and have well and truly avoided the trap of mid-to late-career mediocrity.